ETHNICITY AND PSYCHOPATHOLOGY IN AN AGING HOSPITAL-BASED POPULATION -A COMPARISON OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND ANGLO-EUROPEAN PATIENTS

This study analyzes the effect of ethnicity, classified as African-Ame rican and Angle-European, on diagnosis, symptomatology, and response t o inpatient treatment in a sample of geriatric patients of a research unit of a tertiary care facility. Variables that might confound the ef fects of ethnicity, such as age, gender, education, and associated dia gnoses, were statistically controlled. Psychotic diagnoses were signif icantly associated with ethnicity, being higher in African-Americans, weakening the claim that such an association stems from the confoundin g effects of social class. Variability in the ratings on the Brief Psy chiatric Rating Scale and Hamilton Depression Scale was significantly associated with ethnicity in several instances. African-Americans appe ared to obtain comparatively higher therapeutic benefits from hospital ization. Results are discussed using knowledge of the field of cultura l and social psychiatry.